(Gaeta 1676–1764 Naples) Alexander the Great in the temple of Jerusalem, pen, grey and black ink, grey wash, heightened with white, squared with pencil, inscribed “Alessandro Il Grande si mostra nel tempio di Gerusalemme/ Esiste Replica all’Albertina data al Giaquinto” at the lower margin, 27,7 x 40 cm, mounted, framed, (Sch)

The present drawing is presumably a so-called “ricordo” or a repetition after the history painting titled „Alexander Sacrificing in Solomon’s Temple”, which Conca carried out in 1735 by invitation of Filippo Juvarra for the throne hall of Philipp V. of Spain in La Granja and which was temporarily preserved in the refectory of the Collegio dell’Escorial. (compare Gaeta 1981, No 65a). Conca‘s works were in high esteem during his lifetime. He frequently made repetitions of drawings or paintings of famous works for private collectors. On the basis of a stylistic analysis the present drawing may be classified into the artist‘s late work. The Albertina (Inv. 1351) preserves a preliminary study by Conca which differs from our drawing in some details, e.g. in the figures and in the background. The inscription at the lower margin of the sheet points to a former attribution to Corrado Giaquinto (1699–1765); in 1971, however, W. Vitzthum gave the drawing to Sebastiano Conca. The Museo del Prado preserves a bozzetto for the painting.

Literature: Nicola Spinosa (Ed.), Sebastiano Conca, Exh. Cat. Gaeta, Palazzo De Vio, 1981, No. 65a; V. Birke/ J. Kertész, Die Italienischen Zeichnungen der Albertina, Vienna 1992, VIl. II, Inv. 1351, p. 730.

We are grateful to Prof. Giancarlo Sestieri for the confirmation of the attribution to Sebastiano Conca and for the scientific support.